William & Mary vs. Roanoke College

Comparable Facts

Compare William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA with Roanoke College in Salem, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

William & Mary is larger than Roanoke College based on total student enrollment (9,818 students vs. 1,804 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• William & Mary is located in Williamsburg, VA (Large Suburban setting); Roanoke College is in Salem, VA (Midsize Suburban setting).
• William & Mary is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Roanoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: William & Mary 12:1; Roanoke College 11:1.

William & Mary vs. Roanoke College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, William & Mary or Roanoke College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at William & Mary than Roanoke College ($19,686 vs. $26,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Roanoke College are 5% lower than at William & Mary ($15,366 vs. $16,182).
• Roanoke College is 46.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than William & Mary (about $12,154 more per year; $38,068.00 vs. $25,914.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 34.1% higher at William & Mary than at Roanoke College (about $12,970 more per year; $51,038.00 vs. $38,068.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Roanoke College than at William & Mary (100% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Roanoke College students is 21.8% larger than aid received by William & Mary students ($28,188 vs. $23,144).

William & Mary vs. Roanoke College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, William & Mary or Roanoke College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Roanoke College and William & Mary.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at William & Mary (1470) is 270 points higher than at Roanoke College (1200).
• Incoming William & Mary students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 27 at Roanoke College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: William & Mary 1400/1530; Roanoke College 1090/1300.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: William & Mary 32/34; Roanoke College 24/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: William & Mary - Test optional; Roanoke College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: William & Mary Jan 2, 2027.
• Accepted freshman William & Mary students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at Roanoke College (3.56).
• Roanoke College has a higher acceptance rate (83.1%) than William & Mary (34.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.6% at William & Mary vs. 9.7% at Roanoke College.

William & Mary vs. Roanoke College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for William & Mary and Roanoke College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• William & Mary's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Roanoke College's (69%).
• Graduates from William & Mary earn a median of about $17,500 more per year than Roanoke College graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,700 vs. $51,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, William & Mary graduates have a $7,500 lower median loan debt than Roanoke College graduates ($19,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, William & Mary graduates have an estimated $78 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Roanoke College graduates ($201 vs. $279).
• More William & Mary graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Roanoke College students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.